Worcester Polytechnic Institute vs Massachusetts Bay Community College: which has better ROI?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $172,284 in 3.1 years versus 3.3 years at Massachusetts Bay Community College, on median earnings of $103,470 vs $52,654 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts Bay Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $43,071 | $7,169 |
| Total net cost | $172,284 | $14,338 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $103,470 | $52,654 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $6,500 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $929,916 | $71,542 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Massachusetts Bay Community College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College, at $7,169 a year after aid versus $43,071 — a gap of $35,902 a year, or $157,946 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates earn more?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $103,470 ten years after entry, $50,816 more than the $52,654 at Massachusetts Bay Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Massachusetts Bay Community College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a difference of $20,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, against 17% at Massachusetts Bay Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.